Christmas GC Doubles 27th December 2024

A chilly, if dry, day for the 24 participants. 

Block A winners were Vincent L'Estrange & Simon Ancell, Block B winners were Nira Scutt & Joanne Crosby. Congratulations to them.

A delicious luncheon of various home made soups was provided by Jo Mander and Gill Kydd; thanks very much.

Thanks also to Gerald O'Brien for managing the event and having to find a number of last minute players to make up the numbers.

Vincent L'Estrange, Manager Gerald O'Brien and Simon Ancell

Nira Scutt,, Manager and Joanne Crosby

Full results

Christmas Lunch 15th December

The Canteen was full of colour and anticipation of a good meal when the annual Christmas Lunch took place on Sunday. 

Members enjoyed crudites, then a choice of turkey with all the trimmings or a pumpkin, spinach, mushroom and pine nut Wellington. Sweets were Christmas Pudding (of course), or pears in port, or (what I am told was an absolutley delicious) Nigella's Anglo Italian trifle.

An event like this takes a lot of effort and preparation and as a club we are extraordinarily lucky to have skilled and dedicated volunteers who are willing to put in the time and effort needed: the Working Party, who put up the decorations; the Catering Teams, led by Angela, Rachel and Gill and all their many helpers preparing, cooking and washing up. Without them, the club's social life (and its finances) would be the poor, so thank you all very much.

We should also mention the bar, staffed as ever on these occasions by Clive and Karen, and the foody quiz, prepared and led by Fran (certainly made us hungry, except perhaps the sweetbreads!). Thank you Fran.

We had an extra treat during the meal, in the form of a spontaneous rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas by Tim Kent; it started as a solo, spread to his table and across the room to most tables by the time we had reached Day 6. 

We have one more event this year - the GC one day doubles competition on the 27th. then we look forward to the next season.

In the meantime, compliments of the season and a happy and healthy New Year to all.

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We are sad to report the death of past member Martin Rogers.

Martin and his wife Verna were members from the 1990's until at least 2010 when this (poor, but the only one I have) photo was taken at the opening ceremony for the new Bar. Verna had, I think, died at that point, but was well known to members for her club teas.

Martin was a former electrical engineer working for an international company. He didn't play competitive croquet outside the club but within it he won a number of AC competitions: the Bush Cup in 1994, the Daldy Cup in 1995, the Ron Whetstone Mixed Doubles Cup in 1996. In 2000 he had his best success, beating Christine Constable in the final to win the Sussex Gold Challenge Cup. His final win was the Monteith Bowl in 2002, at that time the D Class AC Summer Tournament trophy. He contributed to tournaments in other small but important ways, undertaking tasks like clearing up the corner markers without fuss.

Martin remained active in the Working Party, turning up regularly for the Tuesday meetings in the winter.

His family have kindly donated their croquet mallets to the club.

A number of members from the early 2000's will remember him well and further memories here will be welcome; contact the webmaster.

Good news for club kitchen!

We took delivery of our great new pass through dishwasher today. It is not plumbed in yet as it took rather a lot of effort to actually get it into the kitchen! Many thanks to Richard Carline and Richard Pointon for their hard work.

The washing up team will be very pleased!!

Half Day GC Singles Monday, 11 November 2024

The sun shines on the righteous. After 2 weeks of cloud the sun finally broke through to shine on the 24 SCCC members who entered one of our increasingly popular half day tournaments. It was great to see many of our new members playing in a tournament for the first time alongside the more familiar ones.

There were 5 divisions of 4 so everyone had 3 games some of which where so hard-fought they had to be curtailed for reasons of time. Morgan and Kathy each won 2 games in Division A with Morgan slightly ahead on net hoops (+5 to +3).

In Division B, one player had to leave early but not before being beaten by Jo Crosby who went on to comfortably beat the other 2 so winning the division. The other two players had the dubious benefit of a 'friendly' match against the TM.

Pam Gooders dominated Division C, winning all three games with +5 net hoops.

Peter Goldsmith and Sue Kilby battled it out in Division D, each winning 2 games, but Peter's net hoop margin of +5 (against Sue's +3) saw him win the division.

One of our newest members, Chris Baccarini, on Division E with 2 wins and +3 net hoops and Linda Davies was second, also with 2 wins.

Congratulations to all our winners and many thanks also to Clive Jones, newly qualified, who kindly agreed to be the Tournament Referee.

And thanks to Vincent for managing the event.

Full results

End of Season Dinner and Trophy Presentation

An excellent evening was had by all those who atttended the end of season dinner and presentation of club competition trophies.

Congratulations to all those who won this year in both GC and AC; especially to Gabrielle who would have needed a truck to take her trophies home, had the club not kept them all for engraving!

Thanks to Liz Farrow and Fiona Phillips for organising the AC and GC club competitions this year and for presenting the trophies.

After the awards and the 100 Club draw, those present enjoyed a supper of lasagna and salad, followed by a selection of delicious puddings;  thanks to the catering team of Angela Avis,  Rachel Pointon, Gill kydd,  Richard Pointon, Angela Jones  Susan Gale, Judith Peek, Pat Harden. Thanks to Linda Gavigan for the vegetarian lasagna and to Peter Goldsmith and Jo Mander for the palovas (two helpings for your correspondent I'm afraid)

The Croquet England GC Interclub Trophy, the Murphy Shield, was also presented to David King (Team Organiser) and Brian Aikens (Captain) for their victory over Chester Croquet Club in this year's final; along the way they beat Cheam, Surbiton and Guildford (fuller report here).

Not every winner was able to be presnt for the awards but the full list is on the website here. Pictures of the presentations to those who were at the dinner follow below, as well as the evening as a whole.

Gabrielle Higgins and the GC President's Cup

Gabrielle and the AC Millenium Shield

Richard Ellis and the GC Handicap Singles Trophy

Deborah Marcus and the AC D'Esterre Bowl

Ivan Segal & Brian Aikens and the GC Level Play Div 1 Trophies

Gabrielle and the AC Feddy Reynold Cup

Pat Harden and the Diana Brothers Drawn Pairs trophy (with Vincent L'Estrange)

Gabrielle and the AC Moore Cup

Gabrielle and the GC Quaiche

Gabrielle Higgins is the AC Victor Ludorum

Jo Crosby and the GC Improvers Trophy

Gabrielle's haul!

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And finally some past trophy occasions

AC High Bisque Singles day 8th November 2024

In cold and misty November weather, the 6 high bisquers left (2 withdrew due to bad knees!), played 4 rounds of 14 point games.

There was some very good play with 4/5 hoop breaks. A lot to earn still!!

Many thanks to those who supported the event. The winner was Richard Ellis who won all 4 of his matches. Runners up were Sue Kilby and Robin Wootton.

We hope to have another day for higher bisquers in March. Watch this space!!

The last AC tournament of the year is on 20th November - alternate stroke games, 14 point, handicap (enter here).

Frances

And thanks to Frances for organising the event.

GC one day doubles competition 1 November 2024

A small but select band of players took part in the penultimate GC doubles competition of the year. 8 pairs played 5 rounds of an incomplete block (we could have played 2 blocks of 4 players with cross-over rounds but a format where each opponent was different was preferred). 

The event was comprehensively won by David Dickins and Douglas Shand who won all their games. Congratulations to them and thanks to Jo Mander who provided a warming bowl of soup and cheese for lunch.

Full results

AC Alternate Strokes Doubles Competition 21 October 2024

The Alternate Stroke Doubles attracted 12 players with a good range of handicaps.

I was struck down with a very heavy cold a few days before so although I managed to get the order of play, rounds and details ready, I had to return home soon after the start.

The day was damp and wet underfoot. The format was 14 point handicap games, 1.5 hour limit. David Dickins kindly took over from me and despite persistent rain, 3 rounds were managed. The winners turned out to be David himself and his partner, Sue Kilby. The runners up were Deborah Marcus and Tony Marjoram.

It was good to see some of the newer players taking part. All pairs won at least one game so a good day out!

Again my thanks to all the players for keeping going in such a stoical way. To Steve Chapman who stood in for me at the last minute, and must have regretted volunteering! Thanks to David for helping out and to Deborah for taking the money.

Another tournament in November so fingers crossed to a dry day! Frances